University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Gardner-Webb
March 8, 2016 | Baseball
CHAPEL HILL --- Eli Sutherland hit his team-leading third home run of the year to break open a close game late as No. 6 North Carolina beat Gardner-Webb 11-5 Tuesday afternoon at Boshamer Stadium. Carolina knocked GWU from the ranks of the unbeaten and improved to 10-1 in the process ahead of Friday's Atlantic Coast Conference opener against Pittsburgh.
Tyler Lynn had three hits and Logan Warmoth drove in a pair of runs for the Carolina offense, which has put up at least 10 runs in four of its last five games. Cole Aker pitched into the fifth in his first career start and allowed two runs on five hits. A.J. Bogucki, Spencer Trayner and Hunter Williams completed the win out of the bullpen, with Bogucki picking up his second victory of the year.
Carolina got to Runnin' Bulldog starter Andrew Massey (2-1) for four runs in the second and built and early 6-0 lead. Brandon Riley stole home in the third for the Tar Heels' sixth run, the second steal of home for UNC on the season.
Danny Sullivan's two-run homer got Gardner-Webb (13-1) on the board in the fifth and the visitors had the tying run on base in both the sixth and the seventh. But Cody Roberts threw out Tyler Best for the last out of the seventh and Sutherland's blast in the bottom half capped a five-run inning for Carolina. For the senior infielder it was his third homer of the year, and he now leads the team with 12 RBIs in just 18 at-bats.
Eight Tar Heel starters had hits on the day, with Tyler Ramirez the lone hitless man in the lineup. But the junior center fielder walked three times and extended his reached base streak to 15 games, which is tied for the team lead with Brian Miller.
Gardner-Webb entered the game as one of two remaining unbeaten teams in college baseball along with Georgia Tech. Taylor Fisher and Collin Thacker had two hits each to pace the Runnin' Bulldog attack.
Carolina opens ACC play Friday at 3 p.m. with the first of three against Pittsburgh.
